American speedwell
Veronica americana · Aquatic plants
Flowers or seeds · Photo: IDClaire / CC BY
Also called American brooklime
How to identify American speedwell
- Opposite, lance shaped toothed leaves on short stalks
- Small blue to violet flowers with 4 petals
- Stems sprawl and root at the nodes
- Smooth, succulent stems
Similar plants
Water speedwell has stalkless leaves clasping the stem; watercress has divided leaves.
Growth profile
| Growing season | Grows from spring, flowers May to September. |
|---|---|
| Starts growing | About 45 F water |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Depth | Saturated soil to about 6 inches of water |
| How it spreads | Rooting stems and seeds |
| Habitat | Springs, streams, ditches and pond edges. |
Why it matters in a lake
Common native plant of spring fed water.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Occasional
- Oregon: Occasional
- Wyoming: Occasional
Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Lamiales |
| Family | Plantaginaceae |
| Scientific name | Veronica americana |
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Baltic rushNeed a hand?
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